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Daffyd Golden, administrator for the Haven, had invited Stiles and Peter for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Haven.
"I have this urge to make sure that you see all of the facility," Daffyd said. "There are aspects you might be able to help us with." He shrugged. "And I've learned to give into that urge."
"O-o-o-kay..." Stiles drawled.
"Yeah, I know, you're new at some of this," Daffyd said with a shrug. "That's better sometimes. You won't think the same way some of us older folk do."
Peter repressed a snort. Older -- at least in Daffyd's case -- meant more than just decades. If Daffyd was less than two hundred years old, Peter would be surprised. Dragons were known for a long life-span, and having a safe place like the Haven would extend that exponentially.
Stiles had been a human Alpha for less than a month. He was technically an adult, being nineteen, but he wasn't even old enough to legally drink in this state. But, as Daffyd said, the outsider can often see what those involved cannot.
The tour was fascinating. As they had been warned, one always knocked before entering a room.
At one point, Stiles said, "It's like the Tardis. It's bigger on the inside."
Daffyd snorted. Peter saw a small puff of smoke with that. "No one ever figured out who stole that idea, they hid their tracks pretty well. We did that first, you know. There are Havens in many larger cities and some of them are ancient."
"Good to know," Stiles nodded.
There were a dizzying array of services available through the Haven. The most obvious ones were lessons, living spaces, food services, and a huge library.
"A zoo?" Stiles asked as they walked through a space on an upper floor that was open to the sky.
"Meh," Daffyd shrugged. "More of a menagerie. Most of the critters that live here are endangered or from another climate zone but, for some reason or another, like to live here. There are no cages, as you can see, but there is living space or dens or trees or whatever is needed for almost any creature that shows up."
"How to they find their way here?" Peter asked. "I'm assuming there are wards that keep out the more mundane type of creature."
"Some of the smaller creatures get brought in," Daffyd said. "Although we do ask you call ahead of you can if you have something to bring in. It lets us prepare space for whatever you may have. Or call the doctors we have on staff, especially if the creature is hurt or in ill health."
Peter nodded.
"Some come in from the skylight, flying in or climbing the building. And, yes, there are wards to keep out most of the mundane creatures," Daffyd went on. "Some just kind of appear. Someone magics them in, or they find their own way in."
Two canine animals came up to them. Stiles immediately dropped to his knees and started cooing at them. Standing, they came up to Peter's waist and looked fully grown. But for magical creatures, that didn't necessarily mean anything.
"Oh. Well. I guess you're supposed to meet Clark and Lois," Daffyd smiled. "They haven't voluntarily come out for anyone in, well, ever."
Peter looked at the canines. At first glance, they looked vaguely like Dobermans but they had red tufts of hair at the tips of their ears and slightly longer snouts. And very intelligent eyes. These were no ordinary canines.
"Clark and Lois? Really?" Peter asked with a grin.
Daffyd shrugged. "They answer to it and they seem to be a mated pair." He shook his head. "Rarely see them."
They watched Stiles roll on the floor with the animals, who licked his face and took turns getting scratched behind the ears.
Peter sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"They're pretty self-sufficient," Daffyd said. "If they're unhappy with you, they're chipped so they can get into the Haven on their own."
"What do they eat?" Peter asked as Stiles giggled as the canines pounced on him.
"Anything, really," Daffyd said. "Well, not dog food, of course. But whatever you're eating, they'll eat. If they're hungry, they'll go out and forage for themselves."
"Will they wear a collar?"
Daffyd whistled sharply and the canines looked up at him. "Collars!"
A collar shimmered into existence around each of their necks.
"The tags are self updating and they're registered here in the Haven," Daffyd explained. He turned back to the animals. "Thank you."
The collars disappeared.
Then the canines disappeared.
"Oh, right," Daffyd went on. "They can turn invisible."
"That is so cool!" Stiles said, climbing to his feet as he straightened and brushed off his clothes.
"Good thing our apartment allows animals," Peter said easily.
Stiles may be the Alpha, but Peter was older. Sometimes it made things between them awkward but they were still working that out.
Stiles wrapped his arms around Peter. "Thank you!"
Peter wasn't stupid. He hugged Stiles back.